HEALTH / LIFESPAN

LEOPARD GECKOS ARE A BIG COMMITMENT IN TERMS OF LIFE SPAN. THESE GECKOS LIVE FOR AN AVERAGE OF 15 YEARS, ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CASES OF LEOPARD GECKOS LIVING TO SEE THEIR 20'S!

A ROUTINE CHECK UP WITH AN EXOTICS VET IS ALWAYS

RECOMMENDED AS IT MAY HELP CATCH AN ISSUE THAT MAY NOT BE VISIBLE TO THE UNTRAINED EYE.

HOUSING

AS UNFORTUNATE AS IT IS, LEOPARD GECKOS ARE SOLITARY ANIMALS AND ARE NOT SAFE TO COHABITATE.

THE MINIMUM SIZE ENCLOSURE FOR AN ADULT LEOPARD GECKO IS A 20 GALLON FISH TANK THAT MEASURES 30"X12". HOWEVER, WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND A 36"X18" TANK TO GIVE YOUR GECKO MULTIPLE PLACES TO HIDE AND EXPLORE.

HUSBANDRY

LEOPARD GECKOS ARE CREPUSCULAR DESERT REPTILES WHICH MEANS THEY ARE MOST ACTIVE DURING DAWN AND DUSK. IT ALSO MEANS THEY REQUIRE HIGH TEMPERATURES DURING THE DAY TIME IN ORDER TO KEEP THEIR BODY TEMPERATURE UP TO PAR. UVB CAN BE PROVIDED AND IS BENEFICIAL, BUT IS NOT NECESSARY.

HEATING

A TEMPERATURE GRADIENT SHOULD BE PROVIDED WITH RANGE UP TO 95° FOR BASKING ON THE HOT SIDE. OUTSIDE OF THE BASKING AREA, THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF THE ENCLOSURE SHOULD BE 75°-80°. THIS ALLOWS FOR THE GECKO TO CHOOSE WHICH TEMPERATURE THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE IN AT ALL TIMES.

AT NIGHT TIME, LET THE TEMPERATURE DROP TO 65°-70° BY TURNING OFF ALL HEATING AND LIGHTING.

HUMIDITY

LEOPARD GECKOS SHOULD GENERALLY EXPERIENCE LOW HUMIDITY THROUGHOUT THEIR ENCLOSURE, HOWEVER IT IS RECOMMENDED TO PROVIDE A "MOIST HIDE" ON THE COOL SIDE OF THEIR TANK. THIS HIDE SHOULD BE FILLED WITH DAMP MOSS FOR WHEN YOUR GECKO NEEDS A HUMID AREA TO SHED THEIR SKIN.

SUBSTRATE

YOUNG GECKOS CAN BE QUITE CLUMSY WITH GRABBING FOOD WHICH IS WHY WE RECOMMEND A SOLID SUBSTRATE SUCH AS REPTILE CARPET, TILE, OR PAPER TOWELS UNTIL THEY REACH ABOUT 7 MONTHS.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO SWITCH TO A LOOSE SUBSTRATE, WE RECOMMEND A 50/50 MIX OF ORGANIC REPTILE SOIL AND REPTILE SAND. WE USE A MIX OF REPTI-SOIL AND EXCAVATOR CLAY TO ACCURATELY MIMIC WHAT LEOPARD GECKOS WOULD WALK ON IN THE WILD.

FEEDING

FEEDING TIME IS ONE OF THE BEST TIMES TO BOND WITH YOUR GECKO.

AS A YOUNG GECKO 1 YEAR OLD, OFFER AS MUCH FOOD AS THEY WILL CONSUME IN 15 MINUTES.

ONCE YOUR GECKO REACHES AROUND 1 YEAR OLD, THEY WILL START TO REFUSE FOOD A LITTLE MORE OFTEN. MOST ADULT GECKOS WILL EAT 2-3 TIMES PER WEEK. THE SAME FEEDING RULE APPLIES.

MAKE SURE TO NEVER LEAVE INSECTS IN THE ENCLOSURE IF YOUR GECKO IS NOT INTERESTED. THIS CAN STRESS YOUR GECKO OUT AND THE BUGS CAN EVEN HARM THEM. TRY USING TONGS TO FEED AS IT WILL MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF ROAMING CRICKETS IN THE TERRARIUM.

THE BEST FEEDERS FOR LEOPARD GECKOS FOLLOW: CRICKETS, DUBIA ROACHES, BLACK SOLDIER LARVAE, MEALWORMS, SUPERWORMS, AND WAXWORMS.

THESE ARE ALL GOOD OPTIONS FOR YOUR GECKO, BUT DIVERSITY IS BEST.

WE RECOMMEND KEEPING 3 OF THESE ON HAND AT ALL TIMES TO OFFER YOUR GECKO.

DUST FEEDERS WITH REPTILE CALCIUM POWDER ONCE A WEEK TO HELP PREVENT METABOLIC BONE DISEASE IN YOUR GECKO.

CLEANING